MLB Player News

Thompson, who turns 34 this month, is batting .278/.381/.833 in 21 plate appearances. He doesn’t make any sense for Boston’s roster if everyone stays healthy, but it’s possible he’ll get a spot if Wilyer Abreu needs to go on the injured list. Otherwise, the Red Sox might also be willing to cut him loose if another team wants him at the end of the spring.

Along with a full no-trade clause, he gets $20 million more than Pete Alonso and $25 million more than Kyle Schwarber over the same timeframe. Outfield might have been the bigger priority for the Cubs, but Bregman still seems like a big upgrade from Matt Shaw at third, and the Cubs could see what Shaw looks like in the outfield. Trading Nico Hoerner is another possibility. For the Red Sox now, it’s Bo Bichette or bust.

Olney’s report comes on the heels of The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty noting earlier this week that the Yankees and Bellinger remain far apart on the length of a potential deal. The 30-year-old slugger has been connected to more than a half-dozen clubs — including the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Blue Jays, Angels and Reds — since the offseason began. It increasingly sounds like he’s headed elsewhere, with Olney adding that the two sides are at an impasse in negotiations, despite the Yankees’ efforts to bring him back.

Toglia will get a fresh start in another phenomenal home ballpark after being non-tendered by the Rockies earlier this offseason. The 27-year-old slugger’s all-or-nothing approach resulted in 42 home runs and a staggering 373 strikeouts across 1,067 plate appearances for the Rockies over the past four seasons. His stratospheric power potential makes him a fascinating lottery ticket but he’ll need to make some strides in the contact department to regain any semblance of fantasy appeal.

The deal, which is now official, includes a $1.25 million buyout, which guarantees Kinley at least $4.25 million to return to Atlanta’s high-leverage mix just a few weeks after the club declined his $5.5 million option for 2026. The 34-year-old veteran reliever finished last season with a respectable 3.96 ERA — 3.69 FIP — 1.18 WHIP and 73/33 K/BB ratio across a career-high 72 2/3 innings split between the Rockies and Braves. He’ll help bridge the gap to Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias along with new high-priced setup man Robert Suarez.

Guerra returns stateside after spending the past two seasons pitching overseas in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers. The hard-throwing 30-year-old righty last appeared in the majors for the Brewers and Rays when he made 17 relief appearances during the 2023 campaign. He’s an interesting zero-risk lottery ticket for Atlanta as a spring training flyer.

Tinoco returns to Miami where he’ll continue rehabbing from last year’s elbow surgery. The 30-year-old reliever compiled a respectable 4.01 FIP, 1.29 WHIP and 10/8 K/BB ratio across 19 1/3 innings over four appearances with the Marlins last year. He made 32 appearances between the Rangers, Cubs and Marlins back in 2024.

Johnson heads to Miami to compete for a bench spot in spring training after batting .189/.246/.302 with one homer and two steals in 57 plate appearances over 31 games split between the Orioles and Giants this past season. The 30-year-old journeyman has settled in as the quintessential emergency depth outfielder capable of handling all three outfield spots in pinch while providing some intrigue as a power/speed combo threat at the plate.

This is interesting. Nelson returns to affiliated ball for the first time in nearly a half-decade after a remarkable 34-homer campaign for the Charleston Dirty Birds of the independent Atlantic League. The 28-year-old third baseman, who was a 15th-round pick of the Marlins back in 2016 and has yet to reach the majors, has spent the last four years bouncing around the independent leagues — including a stint in Mexico — but he’ll get a chance to show what he can do in camp with the Astros this spring.

Davis was torched to the tune of an astronomical 12.23 FIP, 2.55 WHIP and 15/6 K/BB ratio across 11 innings over nine relief outings between the Dodgers and Twins this past season. The well-traveled 28-year-old, who has made 27 appearances in the big leagues since the start of 2022, will battle for a spot in Pittsburgh’s bullpen during spring training.

Zimmerman made one ill-fated, late-season spot start for the playoff-bound Brewers and was tagged for six runs — five earned — over six innings by the Padres before being cut loose by the club. The 30-year-old southpaw put together a solid 4.19 FIP across 138 innings of work over 28 appearances at the Triple-A level last year. He’ll presumably have a chance to compete for a roster spot with the Cardinals in spring training.